Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. One of 14 submissions in its group; the sender added words of their own. See the letter, its submissions and topics.
Carries the letter's score — A copy of a family's letter; it holds the score and answerability level of the letter it sent.
Scorecard
Each dimension is scored 0–3; the eight sum to the substance score out of 24.
- Specific placeNames a specific location — from a region down to an exact creek, trail, road, or map reference.
- Local knowledgeDraws on a first-hand connection to the place — visits, sustained activity, occupation, or a professional role.
- EA analysisEngages the agency's environmental analysis directly.
- Analytical gapIdentifies something the analysis fails to address.
- EvidenceBacks claims with specific facts, data, or research.
- RequestMakes a specific, actionable request of the agency.
- AlternativeProposes a different course of action.
- LegalCites statutes, regulations, or legal obligations.
How hard it is to set aside
A3 weak: Substantive, but easier to set aside. This rating is the one its shared letter earned.
Owed an answer on Analytical gap, Evidence.
Standard dismissals it defeats
- Misreads the proposal The agency says the comment misunderstands what is proposed. Defeated when the comment engages the proposal or a named place directly.
- Outside the scope The agency says the comment asks about a different action. Defeated when the comment is specific and tied to this proposal.
Still open to the agency
- Alternative already eliminated The agency says it considered and eliminated the alternative the comment proposes, with a reason. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
- Already addressed The agency says its analysis already covers the point. Defeated when the comment cites the law itself: there is no analysis to cite against a statutory claim.
- Deferred to a later decision The agency says the point belongs to a later, site-specific decision. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
- Not required The agency says the analysis the comment asks for is not required. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
- Preference noted The agency notes the comment as a statement of preference and takes no action on it. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
- No cause and effect shown The agency says the comment asserts a harm without showing how the action causes it. Defeated when the comment shows the mechanism.
- Certified not substantive The agency certifies the comment raises nothing substantive. Defeated when the comment alleges illegality, which is substantive by the definition the certification runs on.
Topics
- Cultural Heritage Indigenous
- “subsistence harvesters have repeatedly testified through ANILCA 810 hearings”
- “removing the Roadless Rule will result in reduced subsistence opportunity and productivity”
- “Roadless forests are critical for our subsistence foods”
- Economic Impact Fiscal
- “It will hurt our economies, like our visitor industry and commercial fishing”
- “Taxpayers have subsidized the Tongass timber program at a rate of over $25 million per year”
- “Why should we pay to subsidize a failing timber industry, at the expense of our tourism and outdoor recreation industries?”
- Environmental Protection Biodiversity
- “safeguarded the world's largest intact temperate rainforest”
- “Roadbuilding and timber harvest will not reduce insects and disease; it will exacerbate these issues by reducing climate resilience”
- “fails the people, economy, and ecosystems of Southeast Alaska”
- Recreation Tourism Public Use
- “I depend on these places for recreation, health and artistic inspiration”
- “It provides recreation and tourism opportunities that anchor the regions largest private sector industry”
- “invest in recreation and young growth timber”